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On This Date in 1971, the Indian Occupation of Alcatraz Ends: Visit

ICTMN Staff

6/11/13

Today, Alcatraz Island is a deservedly popular tourist destination. Perhaps best known through inaccurate Hollywood film representations, Alcatraz Island, located in the middle of the San Francisco Bay and Golden Gate National Recreation Area's main attraction, offers a close-up look at the site of the first lighthouse and U.S.-built fort on the West Coast, the infamous federal penitentiary long off-limits to the public, and the 18-month occupation by Indians of All Tribes. Rich in history, there is also a natural side to the "Rock"—gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views beyond compare. But it is the occupation beginning in 1969 that is perhaps most relevant to Indian country.